Grant UK is marking 30 years since the company was established, growing from a small, family-run operation into one of the country’s best-known names in oil-fired and renewable heating technologies.
The Company was born when Paul Wakefield, Grant UK’s founder and Managing Director, first met Grant Engineering’s Irish owners, Stephen Grant and John Fay and had the idea of bringing their oil-fired boilers to a UK market ready for change. The success of that early collaboration led to the official formation of Grant UK in 1996.
Like many new businesses, those early years were defined by commitment, long hours and the close-knit spirit of a true family business with Paul’s wife Christine running the sales and distribution operation and daughter Anna (now Head of Internal Sales and Marketing) helping on weekends with customer mailshots.
Since then, Grant UK has built its reputation by “investing early in new technologies and supporting installers through training and technical expertise.” There have been many milestones, including the launch of the Grant Vortex, the company’s first condensing oil-fired boiler, which is described as helping set new efficiency standards and positioning the business ahead of regulatory change.
The company also moved with the times and expanded its renewable offering, with the launch of the Aerona air source heat pump range forming a central part of its future-focused strategy. Grant UK continues to support the transition to low-carbon heating with system design, installer training and dedicated technical support.
While known for its high-quality products, Paul emphasises the heart of the company has always been its people and he cites individuals like Phil Stanley who built the training Academy, Neil Sawers who has been “instrumental in OEM product sourcing and development for over 20 years”, and Andy Smith who heads up the external sales operation, together with numerous long-serving staff have become part of the company’s identity. Many employees that moved on, have later returned or remained connected, are also said to be a testament to Grant UK’s friendly atmosphere and legacy in the industry.
Paul Wakefield commented: “Reaching 30 years is something we’re incredibly proud of. We’ve grown steadily by listening to the market, supporting installers and investing in products that genuinely make a difference.
“The business is in a strong position and with the technology we now have and the people behind it, there are some very exciting years ahead for Grant UK.”
For more details on Grant UK and its products visit www.grantuk.com.
To learn more about Grant UK’s milestones since 1996, please visit www.grantuk.com/about/heritage.
